Snyder to lead trade trip to China

Trip to focus on attracting Chinese investment, promoting tourism

LANSING — Gov. Rick Snyder will leave Sunday for a nine-day trade trip to China, his seventh since taking office in 2011.

Snyder's trip will include stops in the cities of Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Shanghai and Hangzhou, where he will meet with Chinese government and industry leaders, educators and business reporters. The trip is intended to focus on attracting Chinese investment in the state and promoting Michigan's tourism industry.

"We have built strong relationships in China since our first mission in 2011," Snyder said in a statement. "Chinese investment in Michigan has increased dramatically since then, and we'll continue to make the case that there is no better place in North America for Chinese companies to expand and create jobs than in Michigan."

His office says Chinese businesses invested $1.1 billion in Michigan from January 2010 through July.

Jamie Clover Adams, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, will accompany Snyder on the trip with a focus on food and agriculture product exports to Chinese customers. It will be her fifth trip to China, Snyder's office said.